Ten apparatus and about 30 men responded to an early morning fire Tuesday at 207 Hardig Road that burned a 2-and-a-half-story building used for storage to the foundation.

Michael Matteson, assistant fire marshal, described the building as an “old barn” dating from the 1900s that measured 33 by 55 feet.

He said the department received the call at 3:51 a.m. from a passerby and by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, the building was “fully engulfed.” Personnel at the scene quickly determined the building was vacant.

According to Assistant Chief James McLaughlin, fighting the blaze was problematic as there are few hydrants on the winding road between Centerville and Cowesett Roads and the building was set back from the road.

“They had to lay a lot of hose,” he said.

Matteson, who was at the fire, said the building “pancaked” with the upper story collapsing onto the first floor. He said this made for “hot spots” that had crews on the scene for at least two hours. Throughout the period, it rained with some heavy downpours at some points.

Matteson said the fire was “not incendiary” or of suspicious origin. He did not release the name of the property owner and said the investigation should be completed shortly.